If you have any tips that you would like to share with other dog owners, please submit them to the Web Master.  They can be about most anything but certainly quick remedies for common problems are the most helpful.  Whether it is training, house manners, keeping or unusual problems everyone can learn something from someone.  

Need to Fatten Up Your Weim?

Here is a great recipe for Satin Balls and it is extra nutritious for those skinny Weims.  If you are fostering a Weim that has been rescued or is undergoing HW treatment this is the best means of getting weight on them without contributing a mass dose of fat and preservatives to their system.  The recipe makes a huge amount so grab that huge mixing bowl and get those hands going.  The recipe is provided by www.HolisticDog.Org  Check out there site - it has lots of health tips available.

Ingredients

10 pounds hamburger meat [the cheapest kind]
1 lg. box of Total cereal [or comparable natural brand]
1 lg. box oatmeal
1 jar of wheat germ
1 1/4 cup veg oil
1 1/4 cup of unsulfured molasses
10 raw eggs
10 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together, much like you would a meatloaf.

Divide into 10 quart freezer bags and freeze.

Thaw as needed.

Heat Precautions with Your Weim

Keeping you pet healthy in the heat is a major concern.  Here are a few things to think about when the Dog Days of Summer strike!

Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car, even for a few minutes.  When it is 85 degrees outside your car temperature, with the windows open can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes.  Your pet could suffer a heatstroke in just 15 minutes.  A sealed car can reach 135 degrees in 20 minutes.  Before placing your pet in the vehicle, run the air conditioner for a few moments, allowing it to cool.  Remember, your pet's body temp normally is around 102 - 106 degrees.

Keep your pet indoors during peak hours of the day.  Exercise your pet early in the morning and later in the evening when the temps are cooler.  Never let your dog stand on hot concrete or asphalt.  It can burn off their pads and cause serious problems.  Water your dog in small amounts of cool water, not cold.  Lowering the body temp should occur slowly as not to bring on shock.  Make sure your outdoor dog has lots of shade and cool water.

Signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration.  Excessive panting, glassy stare, dizziness, vomiting or collapse.  If you witness any of these signs move your dog into a shaded area and reduce its body temp by cooling it with water.  Soaking a towel in cool tap water and placing in on the under belly or thin skinned areas of the dog's body will reduce the temp quickly and safely.  Seek medical attention immediately if the dog does not respond fairly quickly.  He/She may be tired but should not continue to pant.

If you are boating or camping with your Weim, make sure you bring along jugs of fresh water and an extra towel.  If you dog loves the boat ride, but hates the water, you can soak a towel and drape it on their back to help reduce body temp.  Always have a bowl or nifty water bottle dispensers to provide cool water for your Weim.  Mine love to eat ice cubes and this will also help them stay cool internally.  Do not use water from a jug after three days.  Bacteria starts to form and may cause illness.

Do You Have Fleas?

With a Weimaraner, there is very little left secret under their coat.  You can see the slightest bump a mile away.  But sometimes we miss the signs of fleas due to their size and the activity of our Weims.  Other signs of fleas include irritability, nervousness, restlessness, and loss of energy.  Here is a "Flea Dirt" Test.

1.  Have your pet sit or lie down on a white paper towel or sheet.

2.  Vigorously scruff up hair on the neck, stomach and rump just above the tail.

3.  Remove your pet and look for what appears to be black pepper.

4. Dampen the paper towel or sheet and look dark red debris.

Your Pet probably has a flea problem.  Contact your vet for his/her recommendation on a flea control substance.  The grocery store brands are not generally as effective, especially if you are out of doors with your Weim all summer.

Water and Food Bowls

After a recent trip to a holistic vet to help determine the cause of a skin problem with a female Weim, she pointed out a very good idea that might just be causing your Weim to have skin problems.  She questioned me about the kinds of bowls that I was feeding my dogs from:  stainless or plastic?  I do use stainless because I think they are much easier to keep clean and have always been told that plastic holds bacteria.  The vet indicated that not only do they hold bacteria, but the colour added to the plastic can be toxic to a dog.  Red and dark green bowls contain the most toxins.  As your dog eats and scrapes the bowl with its teeth, small slivers of plastic come off and are digested.  In addition as water sits in the bowl, the toxins from the colour seep into the liquid and the dog ingests them.  Better safe than sorry, so feed and water from stainless steel bowls.  They are inexpensive and much longer lasting and now we know they are safer!

Do You Have a Hoover?

I certainly do.  My female Weim just inhales her food and I am so concerned about bloat that it is frightening to watch her suck down her food twice a day.  A trainer suggested this handy, dandy little tip.  Place a knobby rubber toy in the center of their bowl.  Pour their food around the edges, between the bowl and the toy so that it stays centered in the bowl.  The dog must negotiate their eating around the toy and take the time to move it.  Now, there is a chance that your Weim will be smart enough to remove the toy first and then eat, but if you truly have a Hoover, then all they can focus on is getting to the food!  It really works!

Is Your Weim Afraid of Thunderstorms?

Play the Thunderstorm Game!  Take a handful of treats and crush them into smaller pieces.  Get your dogs full attention as the storm approaches and tell him/her that the 'boom' is coming.  Make a booming noise and then give the dog a treat.  Start the game all over.  The less your dog reacts to the noise, the bigger the treat size should be.  If you allow running in your house, encourage a little romping and tussling while the thunderstorm progresses and continue to say "Boom" in a loud commanding voice.  You can also clap your hands loudly to help your dog become accustomed to loud noise strikes.  Always reward the dog, in the beginning for even the slightest sense of calm when you are playing the game.  As time goes on you can withhold the treat until he/she shows sustained calm during the storm.  In addition try playing a thunderstorm tape recording in the quieter times, when the lightening is not flashing outside.  This desensitizes the dog to the noise of the storm.  It will help him/her to realize that it isn't threatening when the big storm does come.  In addition you can purchase a thunderstorm tape much like the kind played at Halloween to use during times of calm, sunny weather.  It's all about desensitizing the dog to loud, uncomfortable noises!

Do You Have a Tornado Plan for Your Dog?

Since we live in the South, we all have some sort of tornado action plan for our households, but have you planned for the dog?  Most animals sense the barometric change when a storm is approaching.  Even though they may not react outwardly or directly to the change, pressure builds in their heads and often causes discomfort.  Some animals simply become restless, or drink lots of water, while others pant, pace and become demanding with their human.  In any case you need to have a plan.  In whatever location is the safest in your home have a crate ready for the animal.  It is not advisable to try and hold your animal. Not only will they be frightened, but may also bite out of fear, or fight when scared.  If it is a wire frame, make sure you have a cover or heavy duty comforter that will cover the crate to protect from flying debris.  Place the crate against the strongest wall in your home, in a corner if possible.  If you have an extra mattress place it on the open side of the crate.  Make certain you have bottled water and a bowl just in case you are without water for any length of time.  The excitement and fury of a storm may lead to thirst and if you are without water for over 24 hours, you will want to be prepared.

A friend had a wonderful idea when building her new home.  She constructed her closet in her master bedroom, on the bottom floor so that it is large enough to house several dog crates.  It is located on an interior center wall of her home and the crates are fastened together, with blankets and comforter folded on top.  In the event of a tornado she already has the crates set up and simply houses up the multiple animals that she owns.  She wastes no time in getting her animals secured and with the number that she has, there IS no time to waste.

Halloween Pit-Falls

Keep your Weims and other animals safe this Halloween by following a few simple rules:

1.  Make certain candy bowls that are waiting for the trick-o-treaters are safely out of reach of your dog.  Chocolate is true poison to dogs and it smells O-So-Good!

2.  Make certain all costumes are dog 'approved' and made for your dog.  All parts should be well attached, make of cloth or string so choking does not occur.

3. Homemade costumes should not contain metal, cellophane, buttons, glued on pieces or plastic.  Anything that can be easily pulled off becomes a danger to your dog's life.

4.  Make sure you have a 'Door Plan'!  If your dogs are anything like mine, they are curious about everyone that comes to the door.....including the children.  Make sure they are restrained and/or on leashes while you open the door.  Also anticipate that something the children are wearing (like masks or noisy costumes) or their actions could startle or alarm your dog.  It's better to be safe than sorry - for your dog, the children and yourself.